If you vacuum using the right techniques, it only has to be done once a week, not once a day. Here’s how to save time and energy and keep a clean house.

Use the Crevice Attachment Tool First

Vacuum cleaners are your friend, but most people don’t know how to use them.

Start with the crevice tool. This will clean out the corners of each room so that you don’t end up pushing more stuff into unreachable areas. The corners of your room are probably the dirtiest and most neglected.

If your vacuum doesn’t have a good crevice tool, it might be time to get a new one. Seriously. Use this guide to find a better cleaner. There are so many vacuum cleaners out there with excellent crevice tools that, if yours doesn’t have one (or you’ve lost the attachments), it’s probably too old to be useful anymore.

Vacuum the Length First

Start vacuuming length-wise first. This is a first pass that will get a lot of the big stuff on the first pass. Don’t try to give yourself a workout by pushing the vacuum cleaner back and forth rapidly. Save that for the gym.

For some reason, this is pushing/pulling motion is the most common way to vacuum, but most modern vacuums have a motorized head. All you need to do is push it forward slowly and let the brush do the work. More is not better.

In fact, faster pushing action might result in a dirtier floor because the vacuum can’t suck up the dirt as quickly as you’re pushing it.

Vacuum the Width Second

Now that you’re done with the first pass, vacuum width-wise. This second pass will catch what you missed the first time around.

Vacuum Your Way Out Of the Room

Start at the “back” of the room and vacuum your way out of it. That way, you’re not trampling your freshly-cleaned room.

Use a Neutralizer

A carpet neutralizer is something that takes odors out of carpet and refreshes the room. You probably don’t realize it, but your house has a certain smell to it. It’s your smell. It might not be a bad smell, but it’s a smell.

And, you better believe that your guests can smell it too. The thing is, not all smells smell great to all people. And, even if your smell isn’t terrible, it might subtly make the house feel a bit stale instead of fresh and clean.

Simple carpet neutralizers include up to 20 drops of an essential oil, 2 cups of baking soda, and a container to mix it all up. You can also use various non-staining spices or ground incense if you want. You don’t need a lot.

Once the blend it thoroughly mixed, you sprinkle it all over the carpet and let it sit for up to 15 minutes (20 minutes works very well).

Then, you vacuum it all up and your carpet will smell amazing. You can also use this to deodorize your kitchen and bathroom.

Tressa Martinez is a home economist. She loves to share her insights online. Her articles are available mostly on lifestyle and home living sites.